Folkestone Squad 19 Thanet Squad 24

FOLKESTONE XV versus THANET WANDERERS
August 22nd 2015 By Alan Schofield

Coach Leigh Fitchie asked 32 players to attend for this pre-season squad trial match against a strong Thanet Wanderers team on a 31ºC sweltering hot day at Burlington Fields. Some of the Folkestone first team of last season were not able to play but it was pleasing to see how well the new players to the squad adapted themselves against an experienced opposition playing at a level one step higher than The Stones.
The game was split into four quarters of 20 minutes and the starting XV were immediately put to a defensive test of tackling and scrummaging – and the home coaches would have been pleased to see that after the first quarter the big Thanet team only were able to break the Folkestone lines once. The only possible problem was the high kicks out of defence held up in a freshening breeze, giving the opposing backs too much freedom to run.
The second quarter brought on nine fresh players and a change in the game as Folkestone now tested the Thanet defence. Ryan Farrow and Harry Smith made good ground with Dave Ballard, Jon Eustace and Chris Petley backing up and forcing Thanet to concede penalties. Then Kyle Deakin delayed a pass to Jon Morton who broke through from 30 metres, turning the defence, and passing Will Massey for him to feed Harry Smith, at speed, on the left wing, to touch down. Seyhan Fell followed with a magnificent conversion from the far touchline into the wind.
The second half brought another eight changes for Folkestone, but the game continued at pace with spirited tackling by both sides. The scrum temporarily lost a little cohesion and the heavyweight Thanet forwards took advantage of this following up a penalty kick when their experience and momentum caught the Stones off balance and unable to stop a try being scored. And it was unfortunate that a similar failing happened only a few minutes later.
Thanet scored a fourth try by a remarkable piece of luck when three Folkestone defenders were completely wrong footed by a freak bounce of the oval ball that landed in the hands of loose Thanet player who ran on unopposed.
Not that the score, in the circumstances of the game, was critical, but The Stones rightly thought that four tries to one did not reflect on the closeness of the game. They mounted a series of attacks which Thanet were hard pressed to defend against – conceding penalty after penalty and a yellow card. But the wily Tim Wood wove his way through to touch down far out on the right wing and then Ryan Farrow, showing the art of fast, strong, straight running by crashing through for Folkestone’s third try.
Penalty kicks at goal, on this day, were declined, but Folkestone certainly would have had the advantage of points from these had the game been played in the league.
A special word of thanks must be given to the referee, Mr Cameron Henderson, who gave an excellent example of his skills in exactly the right balance.
Next week there is both a 1st XV and a 2nd XV games at home against Deal and Betteshanger 1st and 2nd XV's (KO 15:00) when some of today’s absentees will be given their chance in a team which has tremendous spirit and which can look forward to the season proper with some confidence after this display.